Update on Leah

This is the latest on Leah...

On 10/15/07, Grace M wrote:
This is the latest from Tara (Leah's Mom) -

I want to thank everyone for all of their emails and prayers. I honestly don't think we could have made it this far without them. As far as an update for Leah, last week we spent about 5 hours on Wednesday at the Nelson Clinic (pediatric oncology) at MCV where we met with an entire team of doctors in hopes of getting closer to a diagnosis.

On Thursday we went to the Children's Hospital in Norfolk to meet with a top doctor for a second opinion (or really ANY opinion) to determine the diagnosis and treatment for Leah. Before we knew it, we were surrounded by doctors and we were swept into a whirlwind. Leah underwent a very minor surgery/procedure where they did a deep tissue biopsy and then she was transported up to radiology where they did an MRI.

We were then admitted into the hospital where they kept her overnight for observation. On Friday we met with a neurosurgeon, and we very nervously awaited for the results from pathology. We were not home until dinner time Friday night -- it has been a very long week. In one week, Leah has seen 8 doctors, undergone 1 cat scan, 1 MRI, and 3 biopsies - 4 pathology reports have been run, and we have nothing conclusive that I can really share.

The only thing we do know is that it is a bony lesion (coming from the temporal bones/mastoid area), it has not penetrated the brain (thank GOD), and that it appears to be benign. The final pathology report has been shipped to Massachussetts where another pathologist/team of doctors will be looking at it in order to finally decide exactly what it is. This means that all the information I shared with you above could all change -- all I know is that we really don't know anything.

The game plan for next week is: Monday we head back to Norfolk for another MRI, on Tuesday we get a final pathology report, and then Tuesday afternoon we meet with doctors to determine when we will start treatment or have surgery. If it is okay with everyone, I will email you again to let you know when Leah's surgery is because I would feel much better knowing that the prayer warriors, prayer chains, churches, and individuals are praying for her throughout the surgery day and her recovery days. I would also appreciate prayers that this pathology report comes back with a very treatable diagnosis. Throughout this past week, there were moments that I was so paralyzed with fear that I couldn't even think of the words to pray, and it was reassuring to know that others were doing the praying for me.

Thanks again for the phone calls. I'm sorry I haven't really been answering them. Right now we are trying to spend as much time with Seth as humanly possible before we have to leave again next week. I've also been spending a lot of time on the phone with doctors, nurses, etc. As soon as I can, I will return phone calls.

Thank you for your prayers, love, support, and any healing thoughts you can send Leah's way. Thankfully, she is doing much better than we are. She smiles now, and she has all the doctors falling in love with her. When one doctor examined her, she lifted one eyebrow and gave him the once over -- if she can master that look before middle school, she will have all the boys in line!

Love,
Tara